Machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. E. BIRKNER. WOOD CUTTING MAGHINE.

No. 546,294. Patented Sept. 17, 1895.

ANDREW B GRANM'LPNUTU UTKO WAsmNBTDrLa C (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

E. E. BIRKNER. WOOD CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 546,294. Patented Sept. 17, 1895.

ANUREW BXSRMMM.PNDTD-LIYHQWASMHGYUND C.

UNITED STATES PATENT WOOD-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,294, datedSeptember 17, 1895. Application filed May 25,1895. Serial No. 550,626.(No model.)

This invention relates to wood-cutting machines.

The machine which is the subject of this present invention has for itsobject the performance of such operations as cutting up of forest-logsinto firewood. This takes place in the following manner: From the bottomof a log or billet of wood fed into the hopper-body of the machine iscut a plate by a knife working in guides, which plate passes then undera cutter, which cuts it into strips (small sticks or blocks) fit for usein the household.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan, and Fig. 2 anelevation, of the machine. Fig. 3 represents the cutter-head with thefeed-roller, and Fig. 4 shows the details of the knives in thecutter-head.

In straight guides Ct moves a knife e, driven by the shaft b, crank c,and connecting-rod d, in a horizontal plane, to and fro. In its forwardmovement-i. 6., toward the right of the drawingthe knife e passesthrough aslot in a hopper f of the framing of the machine, into whichhopper have been introduced the logs or billets which are to be cut upinto fire-wood. The block of wood so introduced (but not shown in thedrawings) is laid in such manner as to offer an end section to theknife, so that the subsequent cut is made in the direction of the grain.Below the plane in which the knife travels there are two sliding bars gand it, which serve to carry the block of wood at the time of the out.During the cut one of these bars 5/ is drawn backward out of the hopperby the connecting-rods h and the crank-pin cam-disks 2' toward thedrivingshaft 5. The other bar is pushed away from the hopper f by thepush-rods Z, which are affixed to the cross-head of the knife 2 andstrike against the ends Z0 of the arms lc,prolonged to g, so as to meetthem when'the knife has been thrust forward sufficiently far in makingthe cut. Springs m unite the two sliding bars g and 7a and allow them,when thus moved in contrary directions, to pull against each other, soas to draw each other back to their original places when the separatingforces cease to act. The same result may be attained by an arrangementof separate springs for each sliding bar2'. e, the result that the twobars are, after separation, drawn in from each side into the hopperf.The curvature of the crank-pin cam-disks t' limits the shifting of thebar g, while the movement of k is limited by the end of the groove inwhich it travels. Thus in the drawn-back position of the knife (seedrawings, Fig, 1) both the sliding bars are at the inner limits of theirtravel, so as to support the wooden billet or block. As the knife ispressed forward into the block the bar g is first drawn out of thehopper, and

this is followed by the drawing back of the bar k, and the severedsection or plate of wood drops downward, turning on the edge at in; butthe billet or block cannot drop, as it is carried upon the knife 6. Onthe return stroke, when the knife has returned so far that the push-rodsZ have quitted the slide-bar 7c and left it free, the bar 70 firstreturns to its place, and later on, but before the knife has beenwithdrawn quite out of the hopperf, the bar 9 resumes its formerposition. Then the billet once more rests upon the bars g and k.

Underneath the hopper-body f is placed the inclined plane a, down whichthe piece or section cut from the billet slides into the grasp of tworollers o and p, which are specially illustrated in Fig. 3 and aredriven from the main shaft 19 by means of a belt. The roller 19 servesas feed-roller, being provided for that purpose with rows of projectingpoints which are pressed into the wood. Upon the roller 0, however, aremounted, with interposed disks o', a number of circular diskformedknives 0 Owing to the direction in which the wood-section coming fromthe severed block presents itself to the rollers it is cut by therotating knives o of the roller 0 into strips parallel with the grain.By taking out and exchanging the interposed disks 0' for others ofdifferent dimensions in thickness the breadth of the severed anddissected strips or sticks can be regulated at will. A rake or comb q,Fig. 2, projecting with its teeth between each pair of blades on theroller 0, prevents the strips from lodging between the knives and beingcarried round with the roller. Furthermore, in order to prevent thesevered wood-segments from sticking fast between the knife-blades thefollowing device or arrangement is adopted: The knives and interposeddisks, which between the end most disks 0 are held fast upon the shaft,so as to turn always therewith, are not tightly pressed together; butinside the endmost disks 0 fixed on the shaft, are inserted strongsprings 0 Fig. 4, which permit the knives and interposed disks to have aslight axial or endwise motion, so that the knife-disks may be slightlydisplaced. The roller 19 is carried in adjustable bearings so that thedistancebetween the centers of the two rollers may be altered andregulated as required. On the other hand, the thickness of the piecesevered from the billet at each stroke of the knife maybe regulated inthe following mannerviz., by using crossbars 9 and 7c of variousthicknesses, so that a greater or lesser distance may be obtained atwill between the bottom of the billet and the under side of theknife-blade.

In the machine as described there are other alterations which maybemadee. g., the conveyance of the severed piece to the rollers 0 and 1)may be effected by a toothed endless web of lattice-work, suitablydriven, or by a swinging plate in lieu of the fixed inclined planehereinbefore described.

I claim 1. In a wood-cutting machine the combination with an openbottomed hopper, of a knife 6, guides therefor, reciprocating ledgesgand is, driving shaft 6, push rods Z,mechanism operatively connectingthe knife 6 and ledge g with the driving shaft, springs m, cuttingroller 0, feed roller p, and mechanism for operatively connecting saidrollers with each other substantially as set forth.

2. In a wood cutting machine, the combination with an open bottomedhopper, of a knife e guides therefor, reciprocating ledges gand 7a,driving shaft 1), push rods Z, connecting rod d, cams e, rods h, springsm, cutting roller 0, feed roller 19, and toothed gearing operativelyconnecting said rollers with each other substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand in the presence of thetwo subscribing witnesses.

EDUARD EUGEN BIRKNER. lVitnesses:

LoUIs AUGUST DE VEER, KARL EMIL ZEINER.

